Pot Calling Kettle Black

Watching Rubio talk about all the evils of Iran and the heroinism of the U.S. reminds me of a very bad movie with only part of the plot being told, yet the audience has heard the story so often they believe the story.

R: Iran can't have a nuclear weapon.

I: We signed an agreement. We had regular inspections. We were following the treaty, then Trump pulled out of it.

R: Iran wants to use nuclear power against its neighbors.

I: Khadafi and the Ukrainians gave up their nuclear ambitions leaving themselves unprotected. Why aren't the U.S. against North Korea, India, Israel and other countries who have nuclear power?

R: Groups like Hezbollah are allowed to flourish. Israel has to protect itself.

I: Iran has a right to protect itself, too. All countries do.

R: Iran has attacked its neighbors.

I: So has the U.S. So has Israel. Can you say Venezuela's leader being kidnapped? Can you say threats against Greenland and Cuba by the U.S.? Can you say unrealistic sanctions for decades against Cuba? How is that different?

R: For 47 years Iran has been against the U.S.

I: We weren't the one who helped overthrow our democratically elected Iranian government in 1953 and the Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. You, the U.S. did. 

The U.S. didn't like that he wanted to nationalize the oil fields. That is not a reason to overthrow another government's government.

You supported the Shah's government and the oil companies at a cost to the Iranian people. The Shah's Savak secret police was deeply unpopular with the Iranian people for its arrests and torture, murder of people.

R: Iran tortured and murdered the Iranian people. 

I. How is that different from the U.S. ICE killing immigrants and imprisoning them without proper legal procedures? There are many reports of mistreatment of prisoners under ICE. The U.S. sent them to countries against court orders where they were mistreated.

R: Israel has fought against Iran.

I: Israel has killed over 72,000, men, women, children journalists, denied food and medical treatment to people. The U.S. supports Israel's genocide and unbelievable cruelty by denying them basic necessities.

I'm not saying Iran is a wonderful country. But here's some facts about it:

• One of the world's oldest civilizations
• 17th in size
• 17th in population
• Theocratic/authoritarian government
• Has diplomatic relationships with 165 countries
• Literacy rate 99% compared to 79% of Americans

All these facts makes Iran a formidable opponent. With the U.S. guilty of many of the same action that Iran has done, the U.S. is committing a lot of kettle black calling.